Our Verdict
The iPhone XR will be best for most people ; it costs a lot less than the XS and have you a big cover , batter battery life and the same groovy performance . The XS is for those who want the very best showing quality and treble rearward cameras .
The iPhone XS and iPhone XR are both one-time generation models but if you ca n’t afford Apple ’s previous phones then you might well be choosing between these at lower prices . The two are surd to assure asunder at first , but there are a number of key differences you should view and we ’ll point them out .
Here we explore why there ’s a large price difference between the two phones and help you work out which you should corrupt . For more detailed analysis of each , check out our review of theiPhone XSandiPhone XR .
iPhone history
These iPhones have been replaced with newer models . Find links below to our review of all iPhone models , including the latest generation.iPhone 16is expected to launch in September 2024 ( seewhen is the secure time to buy a unexampled iPhone ) . You might also like ouriPhone buying scout , best iPhone dealsandcomparison of every iPhone that is uncommitted to corrupt today .
Price and availability
The iPhone XR , however , is still on sale and is now available at a meretricious price of£629/$599 . Check out our roundup of thebest iPhone XR mess .
Also see our consummate iPhone buying pathfinder .
Design and build
At first glimpse the iPhone XS and iPhone XR see the same save for the colourful hues of the XR . But they are quite dissimilar on airless review .
The iPhone XS is the exact same dimensions as the now - lay off iPhone X. It has a 5.8 in display but thanks to the sharpness - to - edge nick design is still a one - handed phone for a lot of people .
Although it ’s cheaper , the iPhone XR is larger with a 6.1 in video display . Its bezel are big too , but has the notch of the iPhone XS . The XR comes in six different vibrant colouring , whereas the iPhone XS is either ash grey , blank space grayness or amber .
The more expensive iPhone XS gains a stainless brand rim between the glass sandwich of its screen and rear compare to the Al flange of the iPhone XR – the latter ’s exchangeable to the brim of the iPhone 7 or 8 .
The dual cameras of the iPhone XS are not on the XR . Instead there ’s a unmarried camera on the back that is less of a bump , but still a protrusion .
Overall , the iPhone XR is 8.3 mm thick , slimly chunkier than the 7.7 mm iPhone XS .
The iPhone XS and iPhone XR do n’t look unalike , but the cover sizing , brim cloth , colour options and bezel sizing are the main aesthetic differences .
Features and specs
Before we highlight the bighearted glasses differences , here is a compare of the core feature of the iPhone XS and iPhone XR :
Here is a comparison of the iPhone XS and XR :
Apple has made a big trade of the fact both the iPhone XS and XR have the same A12 Bionic processor . This is good if you require to spend less on your phone , and can find fault up the iPhone XR and it ’ll run just as bland with the same Si inside .
A self-aggrandizing difference is the screen tech . The iPhones XS has an OLED display that is more vibrant when compared side by side with the iPhone XR , which has an LCD display .
OLEDs are equal to of deeper blacks and a higher pel per inch tally that make them seem less grainy on close review than an LCD . This is n’t to say the iPhone XR has a regretful exhibit , as Apple ’s LCDs are excellent .
you’re able to get the iPhone XS with a huge 512 GB storage but this is n’t an option on the XR , which is now limited to 128 GB follow its cost drop . To be honest , most people will be absolutely hunky-dory with the base storage option of 64 GB .
To bestow insult to injury neither phone comes with Apple ’s £ 9/$9headphone jack adapterin the corner . You ’ll have to buy one if you require to use your normal pumped up earphone , though both phone ship with pumped up EarPods with Lightning connector .
The camera on each earphone differ quite a bit . The dual 12Mp sensors on the iPhone XS are ranking and both have optical image stabilisation . One of the lenses is for telephotograph to allow 2x rapid climb , and for profundity perception .
But , in an Apple first , the undivided camera on the iPhone XR is capable or portrait mode bokeh effect photos thanks to improvements in Apple ’s post - processing software . While not as innovative as on the XS , you ’ll be able to take reasonably keen photos on the XR too .
Both phones have the on-key astuteness front facing tv camera regalia for Face ID and Animoji .
The iPhone XR has better bombardment life than the XS thanks to its more energy - friendly LCD screen copulate with a bigger battery capacitance .
Software and apps
right on now the iPhone XS and XR both ship with iOS 12 preinstalled , the translation of Io that was released at the same clip as them . This was a adequate upgrade from iOS 11 , improving notice interaction most noticeably and finally introducinggroup FaceTime .
Memojialso joins Animoji , allowing you to make a unrecorded reactive emoji of yourself to transport to multitude on iMessage . It ’s only available if you have an iPhone X , XS , XS Max or XR as these phones have the rightful Depth cameras on the front .
iOS 12 also adds battery wellness datum in configurations to see how you ’re lumber it into the ground . There are no software differences between the two phones .
However , you ’ll be able to upgrade toiOS 13 .
Verdict
Although the XS is give up via Apple , we ’d still commend get the iPhone XR over it . Even more so now that Apple has lowered the price to £ 629/$599 .
The XR has a lot going for it including a larger projection screen , colourful invention , the same performance and long stamp battery life . There ’s very little reason to drop more on the XS .
A trickster option is now between theiPhone 11 vs XR .
